Although the music of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince was occasionally mocked by serious hip-hop heads as squeaky-clean commercial pap, the duo was among the most compelling and likeable pop-rap acts of the 1980s. THE VERY BEST collects all of the duo's biggest hits, including their first single, "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble"; their breakthrough smash, "Parents Just Don't Understand"; and "Summertime," their highest charting release.

While the Fresh Prince's cheeky, sanitized raps lack the punch of those by hip-hop's best MCs, they remain nimble, witty, and highly enjoyable even decades later, and Jazzy Jeff's skills on the turntable--always respected in the underground despite the duo's mainstream visibility-- are in ample evidence throughout this set . Ultimately the duo was a singles act, which makes THE VERY BEST an ideal one-stop purchase for casual fans.